Railroad crossing gate



June 28, 1932. E. 1. BATEMAN RAILROAD CROSSING GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lune 28, 1932 UNETED EIR-ROL I. BATEMAN, OF GULFPORT', MISSISSIPPI 'RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Application` filed May 1,

This invention relates to an improved railroad crossing gate.

The object of the invention is to provide a guard atrailroad grade crossings which will tend to eliminate any possibility of accidents to persons crossing the tracks and making it impossible for an automobile to cross when a vtrain is approaching` and, at the same time, to

- provide such a guard that will not be of inconvenience to motorists crossing when no train is dangerously near.

The action of the guard is such that it will cause the motorist to cross at a reasonable speed for his own comfort. The guard is preferably automatically controlled and may be connected with the block signal system of the railroad, so as to be regulated by the position of a train in respect to the crossing and Y Y Vto be unlocked by the departure of the train from the crossing and when the crossing is clear.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a. t'op pla-n view sho-wing the ap- 2-5 plication ofthe invention to a grade crossing; F ig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one of the crossing guards; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the gate actuated from both sides.

ally by the numeral 1 and eXtendacross a road 4or street 2. This road preferably has a curbing in the center todivide the lines of traffic crossing the tracks 1 in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

Arranged on each side of the curb 3 and on the approach side of the tracks is gate 4. preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 2, with a cross bar 5 and a wire web or spring belt arrangement 6, both of which bar and web .are suspended between upright posts .7. Bothv ends ofthe web G are connected with the posts 7 by suitable resilient connect-ions such as springs 8. The bar 5 may carry suitable red reflectors or warning signals 9, if desired. Arranged at each end of the gate 4 is a box or other suitable receptacle 10, into which the vupright post 7 at that end extends where it is pivotally mounted as at 11. rllhe lower end of the post carries a counter-weight 12 and 'having one edge pivoted as at 19, so as to rlfhe railroadV tracks are designated genertro-magnet 24 in position to attract the same 1930. Serial No. 448,962.

of the rocker 15 is pivoted to a link 17, which pivotally connects the saine with a tread 18 swing to an upright position. The tread 18 extends across the roadway at least half of the width of the roadway and a. link arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 3 is preferably provided ateach end of the tread 18,

connecting each ofthe upright posts 7 there- 65 with. One of these only may be found sufficient, in which event the other may be omittedor the one gate may be actuated from two treads 18 by providing two sets of links 14 and 17, and two rockers 15, as shown in Fig. 3.

This is desirable where the road is narrow and the treads extend the entire width.

The lower end of the post 7 or the counterweight 12 is provided with a notch 2O in position to receive one end of a leverarmature 21, as shown in F ig. y2, which armature is pivotally mounted as at 23 within the casing 10.

Arranged over the armature 21 is an elecwhen energized. An electric circuit is illusvtrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 and designated by the numeral 25, and is shown connecting the electro-magnet 24 with the tracks 1, so as to control the actuation of the electromagnets by means of the approach or departure of a train. If desired, either audible or visible signals, as at 26, may be disposed beside each gate 4, so as to indicate when it is safe to cross.

In using the invention, the gate 4 will normally be disposed in an upright position, as illustrated in the drawings, but with the magnets 24 deenergized, so that the armatures 21 will be lowered out of engagement with the n notches 20. Upon an automobile approaching the crossing, the weight of the front wheels will depress the tread 18 and through the links 14 and 17 and the rocker 15, the gatev 4 will be caused to swing to a lowered .upright position across the roadway, which allows the automobile to cross the tracks. After passing over the gate, the countenweights 12 return the gate to an upright position.

Upon the approach of a train, the electric circuits 25 are closed, which causes an energizing of the magnets 24 to attract the armatures 21, to swing the same into notches 20 to lock the gate in an upright position. In the event that the gate 4 has been moved over out of an upright position by the passing of an automobile, the guards 13 prevent the bar armatures 21 from being moved'behind a portion of the upright post 7 or counter-weight 12 to prevent the gate from being returned to its normal upright position.

After the train is past clear of the crossing, the magnets are automatically deenergized to release the bar armatures 21 and permit the crossing of vehicles.

The invention is simple but provides an effective means of automatically controlling a crossing and to prevent vehicles from crossing a railroad track when a train is dangerously near.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a crossing gate, of a platform in front of the gate and depressible by the weight of a vehicle for actuating the gate, and an electrically actuated latch for direct contact with the gate to lock the same in ay closed position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a crossing gate norm ally closed, of a platform arranged in fr-ont of the gate and'depressible bythe weight of the vehicle to open the gate, and an electrically7 actuated latch for direct contact with the gate to lock the same when a train is near the crossing.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a crossing gate, of sup'- ports for said gate, means for pivotally mounting said supports, gravity actuated means for normally moving the gate to an position, and electro-magnetic means for engaging and locking the gate -in an upright position.

4. In a devicel of the character described, the combination with a crossing gate, upright posts supporting said gate, pivotal meansfor said posts, means normally tending to move the gate to an upright position, at least one of the posts having a notch therein, a lever in position to ent-er said notch and hold the gate in an upright position, and electro-magnetic means for automatically actuating said lever when a train is near the crossing.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a crossing gate, upright posts supporting said gate, pivotal'means for said posts, means normally tending to move the gate to an upright position, at least one of the posts having al notch therein, a leverin position to enter said notch and hold the gate in an upright position, electro-magnetic means for automatically actuating said lever when a train is near the crossing, a tread arranged in front of the gate and depressible by the weight of a vehicle, and means operatively connecting said tread with the gate normally tending to open the gate upon depression of the tread.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a crossing barrier, a platform operatively connected with and for swinging the barrier out of restraining position, and an electro-magnetic latch for direct contact with the barrier to lock said barrier in restraining position.

7. In a device of the character described, the combinationy with a crossingbarrier, one or more supports for said barrier, pivotal mea-ns for said supports, means actingv on the support normally tending tohold the barrier in restraining position, said support having a notch therein, and electro-magnetic means for engaging the notch to lock the barrier in restraining posit-ion.A

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a crossing barrier, one or more supports for said barrier, pivotal means for said support, a tread, linkage operatively connecting the tread with and for Vswinging the barrier out of restrainingposition, said support having a notch therein, and electro-magnetic means for engaging the notch to automatically lock the barrier in restraining position.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a crossing barrier,vmeans for holding said barrier normally closed, a platform arranged in front ofthe-barrier and depressible by the weight of a vehicleV for opening the barrier, means operatively connecting the platform with the barrier, and an electrically actuated latch for direct contact with the barrier to lock the-,same ina closed position.

10V. In a device of the character described, the combination of a railroad crossing gate, means for holding said gate normally closed, a platform arranged in front ofthe gate and extending a substantial distance across a roadway, and depressible by the Weight of a vehicle for opening the gate, means operatively connecting the platform with the barrier, and an electrically actuated latch automatically responsive to a condition of clearness of a railroad track for direct contact with the barrier to lock the same in a. closed position.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pivotally supported railroad crossing gate, means for holding said gate normally closed, a platform arranged in front of the gate and extending a substantial distance across a roadway to be depressed by the weight of a vehicle for opening the gate, means operatively connecting the platform with the gate to swing the gate to an open position upon depression of the platform, and automatic latching means for direct contact with the gate to lock the same in a closed position.

12. In a device of the character described, a barrier having upright posts. Dvotal means for the posts, at least one of the posts having a notch formed in a portion thereof to receive a locking latch, and one or more curved guards extending from a point adjacent the notch outwardly from the post to prevent engagement of the latch behind the post.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

ERROL I. BA'IEMAN. 

